Starting a business takes more than a great idea. From choosing the right business structure to understanding legal responsibilities, early decisions can have lasting consequences. But navigating complex legal requirements often means investing time, resources, and expertise that new entrepreneurs may not have readily available.
Through a free, quarterly Legal Clinic series, SOAR Innovation and FBT Gibbons are helping bridge that gap, connecting Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs with experienced business attorneys and practical legal education at no cost.
The series began September 10 with a virtual session focused on business formation and governance, giving aspiring and early-stage founders valuable insight into the legal decisions that can shape their businesses from the start.
Building a Strong Legal Foundation
Led by Derrick Maultsby Jr., Managing Associate at FBT Gibbons, the inaugural clinic explored business structures and tax classifications, including LLCs, S corporations, and C corporations, and their implications for ownership, liability, taxation, and growth.
Participants also learned about operating agreements, partnership arrangements, registration requirements, and common legal mistakes. Establishing clear expectations around ownership, responsibilities, and decision-making early can help entrepreneurs avoid costly misunderstandings as their businesses grow.
For founders accustomed to handling every aspect of their businesses themselves, knowing when to seek professional expertise can be just as important as knowing how to get started.
While some legal decisions can be revisited, correcting mistakes or restructuring a business later may involve additional time, expense, and complications.
SOAR Innovation’s free clinics provide an accessible starting point, helping entrepreneurs recognize potential risks, ask informed questions, and identify when individualized legal guidance may be necessary.
Missed the First Clinic? Watch the Recording
The September 10 session was the first of four quarterly Legal Clinics designed to equip Eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs with practical legal knowledge.
Those who couldn’t attend can watch the recording to learn about business formation, operating agreements, registration requirements, and common legal considerations at no cost.
Watch the September 10 Legal Clinic: Business Formation and Governance HERE
Recording passcode: .D7*^JPD
Up Next: Protecting Your Ideas, Brand, and Business
Once a business is established, another important question emerges: How do entrepreneurs protect what they’re building?
The next free, virtual Legal Clinic, scheduled for November 12, 2026, will focus on intellectual property protection, helping founders understand the legal considerations surrounding their products, brands, creative work, and business processes.
Topics will include trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets; when trademark registration may be appropriate; intellectual property risks in software, e-commerce, and creative businesses; and ownership considerations when working with contractors.
The session will also explore how entrepreneurs can approach intellectual property protection cost-effectively, including what may be worth protecting and when professional assistance is appropriate.
Registration is open for November 12. Attendance is free, but space is limited.
Register for the next Legal Clinic: https://share.hsforms.com/1PqQssseKTcC8O5k36xyaEwntn96
More Opportunities to Learn
The quarterly series continues into 2027, with additional clinics scheduled for:
- February 11, 2027
- May 6, 2027
For questions about the series, contact Danna Barnett, SOAR’s Director of Innovation, at danna@soar-ky.org.
Learn more about SOAR Innovation